We are excited to welcome bassist/composer Radhika de Saram to SoundCellar with a stunning quartet featuring Ivo Neame on piano, Zhenya Strigalev on saxophone and Billy Pod on drums. You can expect to hear influences from jazz, world music and Sri Lankan folk song and rhythm.

This gig will take place at The Grasshopper,
139 – 141 Bournemouth Rd, Poole BH14 9HT.

Please note: If parking in either of the car parks at The Grasshopper, you must register your vehicle on one of the dedicated terminals at the bar or in the function room.

For U18s & Students ticket offers, click on 'Buy Tickets' (note: offer only available until limited numbers reached)

Radhika de Saram was born in Sri Lanka to a family of classical musicians and moved to London aged five in 1996. Radhika actively freelances as a violinist in London, touring and recording with orchestras such as London Contemporary Orchestra and Chineke! Orchestra, and performs frequently in prestigious venues such as the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall amongst others and tours regularly In Europe. She has recorded violin on the soundtracks for films such as ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ which won an Oscar for Best Music, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ , ‘Tar’, and ‘One Life’ and for albums by bands such as The National and The Smile amongst others, as well as performing as part of a string section with icons such as Grace Jones, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton and Little Simz. Radhika also composes and plays bass guitar, and has performed her own original music with her band in various venues around UK, Europe and Sri Lanka. She has recently released her debut album ‘From The Crow’s Nest’ comprised of all her original compositions. The majority of these tunes were written during the lockdown and was her first time composing. Musical influences include folk music from her native country, Sri Lanka, as well as jazz and other styles she’s encountered while travelling and while working as a freelancer in London.

‘’Her writing is intelligent, multi-faceted and admirably diverse’’ The Jazz Mann

"Each tune immediately gets your feet tapping" Jazz Views

Zhenya Strigalev makes a welcome return to SoundCellar, having worked with some of today’s most forward thinking musicians (including Eric Harland, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tim Lefebvre, Chris "Daddy" Dave, Alex Sipiagin, William Parker, Aaron Parks, Joseph "Foley" McCreary from Miles Davis fame, Larry Grenadier) and has appeared at many prestigious jazz festivals and concert venues, performing extensively in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic, Austria, Britain, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, Peru.

"A maverick at the heart of modern jazz." ★★★★​ The Telegraph

Ivo Neame is an award-winning pianist and composer, who we are always pleased to see here at SoundCellar. In addition to leading his own bands, he has featured in several of European jazz’s most forward-looking groups including Phronesis and the Marius Neset Quintet. He regularly performs at jazz festivals worldwide, collaborating with ensembles as diverse as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the London Sinfonietta. Ivo studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and since leaving in 2003 he has performed and recorded with highly esteemed musicians at home and abroad such as Hermeto Pascoal, David Binney and Kenny Wheeler.

“Ivo Neame is one of the very best jazz pianists on the UK scene” BANDCAMP DAILY

Drummer Billy Pod is no stranger to us here at SoundCellar, having played a great gig with his quartet at The Grasshopper in 2022. Billy’s reputation has quickly grown, especially since he moved to London from his native Greece in 2020. As well as releasing two fine albums under his own name, he has found himself in demand from some of the best musicians around, such as Jim Mullen, Rob Luft, Vasilis Xenopoulos, Gilad Atzmon, Becca Wilkins, Dave O’Higgins, Mornington Lockett and others.

“…his abilities as writer and performer are refreshing, different and most welcome.” Andy Robson (Jazzwise)

Line-up:

Zhenya Strigalev: saxophone
Ivo Neame: keys
Radhika de Saram: bass guitar
Billy Pod: drums

All advance ticket buyers will receive an exclusive link to a video of the evening’s performance, available for one month